FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 4, 2023
K-WINGS BATTLE KOMETS, COME UP JUST SHORT AT HOME
Kalamazoo and Fort Wayne lock up in Central Division slugfest, setting the stage for the rivalry’s next chapter.
KALAMAZOO, MI – The Kalamazoo Wings (3-3-0-0), proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, put forth a strong effort but were unable to find a third period equalizer in a 3-2 loss versus the Fort Wayne Komets (3-2-0-0) at Wings Event Center Saturday.
In a game that felt like it could swing either way, Kalamazoo came up just short of forcing overtime with an extra attacker in the final seconds.
Fort Wayne opened the scoring on the power play at the 10:40 mark of the first. Collin Adams (1) then answered 1:29 later with a rebound cash-in out front. Brandon Saigeon (4) and Cooper Walker (3) assisted on Adams’ first goal as a K-Wing.
The Komets jumped back in front with 12:36 left in the second. Kalamazoo again responded. This time Erik Bradford (2) punched in a low slot goal off a nifty Chad Nychuk (1) pass with 1:44 remaining in the middle stanza. David Keefer (3) also assisted the game-tying goal.
Fort Wayne answered 63 seconds later, scoring the game-winner with 0:41 left on the clock in the second.
Goaltender Jonathan Lemieux (3-2-0-0) was fantastic for the second straight night, as the rookie made 32 saves in the loss.
Kalamazoo finished the game scoreless on the power play and 4-for-5 on the penalty kill. Fort Wayne took the final shot total, 35-29.
The K-Wings hit the road for three straight in Coralville with the first on Wednesday at 7:35 p.m. EST against the Iowa Heartlanders.
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Don’t miss out on the Hockey Fights Cancer Ticket pack. Enjoy four tickets to Lavender Ice on November 25, four silicone HFC bracelets and 10% of your ticket package will be donated to West Michigan Cancer Center. There will also be a HFC specialty jersey auction immediately following the game, benefiting WMCC. Click HERE to secure your package NOW!
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The Kalamazoo Wings are a professional hockey team located in southwest Michigan that has been a staple in the Kalamazoo, MI professional sports landscape since 1974. The K-Wings compete in the ECHL and are the AA affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks and the American Hockey League’s Abbotsford Canucks. Kalamazoo plays their 36 regular season home games at Wings Event Center from October through April.
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